Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

This letter is to provide an update that Western Canada High School remains over capacity this school year and is projected to remain at its capacity for the 2024-25 school year and beyond. In July 2023, we implemented a short-term overflow for new students registering for the regular program at Western Canada High School. We are continuing to explore solutions to address the high enrolment at Western Canada High School.

We anticipate accepting all incoming Grade 10 students for the 2024-25 school year. However, the cap on enrolment and the overflow will remain in place due to the projected enrolment growth for Western Canada High School.

Regular program students that cannot be accommodated at Western Canada High School will be overflowed to:

• Crescent Heights High School - located at 1019 1st Street NW

Regular program students who are overflowed to Crescent Heights High School will be placed on a call-back list. If space becomes available, they will be given an opportunity to transfer back to Western Canada High School.

No Changes for Current Students at Western Canada High School

Current students will remain at Western Canada High School for the 2023-24 school year and beyond, provided they do not move out of the school boundary.

Why is this change happening?

Over the course of the previous and current school years, there have been continuous registrations for Western Canada High School at a rate higher than what is normally seen at the school. Growing enrolment has caused Western Canada High School to reach its capacity, and an overflow must remain in place to ensure the learning environment is not adversely impacted.

Will there be any changes to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme?

An enrolment cap will be placed on incoming IB Programme students to help alleviate the enrolment pressures currently experienced at the school. Students who are not able to attend IB in Western Canada will be given the option to attend an alternate IB school. Students interested in IB should review the International Baccalaureate page for information about the Expression of Interest form and registration/transfer deadlines.

Will there be any changes to the French Immersion Program?

We are not overflowing students in the FI program, including new students to CBE. Although limited, some spaces exist in the French Immersion program. We are continuing to monitor the enrolment numbers in the program closely.

Will Western Canada High School be running a lottery?

The lottery process may need to be followed for incoming Grade 10 students for the 2024-25 school year and beyond, if the number of registrations exceeds the number of student spaces available.

If a lottery is conducted this would include current CBE students designated to attend Western Canada High School for Grade 10. Students who are unsuccessful in the lottery or cannot be accommodated at the school will be overflowed and added to the call-back list. Student information will be transferred to their new designated overflow school, Crescent Heights High School. New Grade 11 and 12 regular program students who cannot be accommodated at the school will continue to be overflowed and added to the call-back list. For more details on the lottery process, deadlines and how we determine priority, please visit our website.

What is a call-back list?

If space becomes available in Western Canada High School during the school year, that space will be offered to students on the call-back list who are currently attending their designated overflow school, Crescent Heights High School.

Students remain on the call-back list while they attend the designated overflow school. Students will be removed from the call-back list if they move out of the Western Canada High School boundary or transfer from their designated overflow school. Any new registrations received for the 2023-24 school year will be added to the call-back list based on priority designation and the date and time of their registration.

How do I register for the 2024-25 school year if my child is in Grade 9 and attending a CBE school?

All current Grade 9 students will be automatically assigned to their designated regular program high school for Grade 10. No additional steps are required for parents with respect to the regular and French Immersion program enrolment. Students seeking entrance to the IB program will follow a separate expression of interest process.

How do I register for the 2024-25 school year if my child will be new to CBE in Grade 10?

Any new registrations from students not currently enrolled in a CBE school and living in the Western Canada High School boundary must still register for Western Canada High School through SchoolEngage.

For more information on how to register, please visit our website.

Is transportation available for students attending the designated overflow schools?

High school students are assigned to Calgary Transit as their mode of transportation. Routes can be accessed through the “Plan a Trip” tool. While CBE works collaboratively with Calgary Transit, decisions on service levels are made by Calgary Transit based on available space and resources.

What if I have questions?

If you still have questions or require additional information, please contact the Area 7 office at Area7@cbe.ab.ca or 403-777-8750 (extension 0) or Area3@cbe.ab.ca or 403- 777-6820 (extension 0).

David Dyck Director, Area 7

Melody Pelling Director, Area 3

Catherine Ford Director, Planning